During a hard-hitting press conference at Freedom House on Thursday, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary and Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo did not hold back in criticizing A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) for its failed governance, deceptive campaign promises, and dark role in trying to subvert democracy by rigging the elections during the 2020 General and Regional Elections.
Dr. Jagdeo directly connected the APNU+AFC’s poor performance in office to the low turnout at its recent campaign launch, despite bussing supporters from different regions.
“The poor turnout shows the party’s waning influence,” Dr Jagdeo said, stressing that Guyanese from all walks of life have chosen to distance themselves from a coalition that brought nothing but hardship and dishonesty to the nation.
The Sinister Attempt to Steal an Election
Dr. Jagdeo reminded the nation and international observers that the PNC/AFC’s actions go beyond poor governance—they include an attempted hijacking of the democratic process in 2020. After Guyanese cast their ballots on March 2, 2020, they faced an agonizing five-month delay in results due to what has now been revealed as a coordinated effort by PNC/AFC operatives to rig the election.
A Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the 2020 elections revealed collusion and conspiracy among high-ranking officials at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)—working together with APNU+AFC leaders—to manipulate and falsify vote tallies in a shameful effort to remain in power. What a disgrace.
Instead of defending democracy, these officials worked tirelessly to produce false declarations, hide legitimate results, and betray the will of the people. Dr. Jagdeo pointed out that Aubrey Norton and the PNC/AFC have never admitted or condemned these acts of electoral fraud, instead spreading misinformation and playing the victim.
“They tried to steal the government,” Dr Jagdeo declared. “And to this day, they still dare to speak about democracy while refusing to admit they lost the 2020 elections.”
Defending a Failed Legacy
Instead of apologizing or reflecting, Norton and other PNC leaders have doubled down on defending the disastrous policies from their 2015–2020 term. Dr. Jagdeo highlighted the coalition’s record: thousands of jobs lost, a spike in taxes, closure of sugar estates, and cuts to essential services like education and public assistance.
“Norton didn’t distance himself from them, betraying young people; he’s making excuses for it,” Dr Jagdeo said. “He didn’t distance himself from the policies that led to the loss of thousands of jobs… He embraced it.”
Instead of offering a credible alternative, Norton has chosen to mock the educational goals of thousands of Guyanese and fill the air with empty rhetoric.
Attacking Guyana’s Youth and GOAL Graduates
Dr. Jagdeo strongly criticized Norton’s shameful comments about the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL). The opposition leader dared to call the program “goalless,” ignoring the success of 39,000 Guyanese who have been empowered to earn academic degrees, many at the postgraduate level.
“This is the leader of the opposition talking about 39,000 persons in Guyana who are studying under this programme,” Dr Jagdeo said, highlighting that over 70 per cent of these graduates are women.
Norton’s flippant remarks undermine the hard work of students, many of whom come from remote areas and disadvantaged communities. His bragging about earning his degree abroad only emphasizes the elitism and disconnect from everyday Guyanese that burden the PNC leadership.
Hollow, Dangerous, and Financially Irresponsible Promises
The PPP/C General Secretary also dismantled the PNC’s latest populist proposals, which he described as economically reckless and mathematically impossible. One proposal by David Hinds to give every citizen G$1 million in annual direct transfers would require G$600 billion per year—more than the country’s entire oil revenue.
“So, what if oil prices fall, say, next year or this year? What are they going to do if you base all the implementation of your promises only on oil money?” Dr Jagdeo asked. “What happens when it goes?”
He contrasted PNC’s fantasy economics with the PPP/C’s strategy of “being generous, but smart”—emphasizing responsible use of oil wealth to drive sustainable growth in education, health, infrastructure, and housing.
Dr Jagdeo also exposed Leon Saul’s irresponsible pitch to replace Guyana’s iconic sugar industry with cannabis cultivation, calling it reckless and insulting to the over 7,000 sugar workers who lost their jobs under the coalition’s estate closures.
“Sugar done, hemp and cannabis in,” Saul had said at the rally—an admission that Dr Jagdeo said reflects APNU’s actual plan to abandon sugar entirely, though they lack the courage to say it outright.
The PPP/C’s Proven Record
In sharp contrast, Jagdeo highlighted the PPP/C’s record of effective governance and inclusive development. The government has invested in education, reintroduced the children’s cash grant, created tens of thousands of jobs, and built new infrastructure across the country.
The GOAL program, supported by G$12.5 billion in investment, has opened opportunities for Guyanese from all backgrounds to pursue degrees, master’s, and PhDs at no cost to them. Under PPP/C leadership, Guyana’s youth literacy rate has increased to nearly 98%, according to official statistics.
Furthermore, Dr. Jagdeo reminded the public that it was APNU+AFC that imposed VAT on private education and raised tuition fees, despite now promising free education in a desperate attempt to attract votes.
Rejecting APNU’s Deception
Dr. Jagdeo’s message was clear: the APNU’s campaign is based on deception, revisionism, and unrealistic financial fantasies. Their failure to accept responsibility for past mistakes—along with their shameful attempt to rig an election—renders them unfit to govern.
“We can defend our track record anywhere in this country, ” Dr. Jagdeo said. “The opposition, on the other hand, can only peddle lies, sling mud, and try to rewrite history.”
As Guyana gears up for the 2025 General and Regional Elections, the contrast is striking. One side features a PPP/C government delivering progress and stability. At the same time, the other is marked by an opposition plagued with electoral fraud, failed policies, and blatant disrespect for the intelligence and dignity of the Guyanese people.
There is an apparent optimism in the country that the PPP party will be re-elected with a substantial majority.
Aubrey Norton’s loudmouth will claim that the PPP rigged the elections, just like his PNC party has been rigging elections after elections for decades. Rest assured, Norton will broadcast this.
Norton needs to realize that his Afro-Guyanese supporters make up only 29.3% of the population. Nearly 10% of the Afro-Guyanese population, which accounts for 29.3% of the total population, has already joined the PPP party. Norton is left with just 19.3%, a number that is being divided among two smaller parties, including Forward Guyana and WIN.
Norton’s only way to repair his reputation is to accuse the PPP party of rigging the election worldwide. When an election is rigged against him, he blames the party that genuinely believes in fair polls, thereby discrediting it and making himself appear as the victim. He will be spreading lies to the public and the world.
Once the election result is announced, Norton will refuse to recognize the new PPP government. However, no one will care or shed a tear for Norton; instead, he will throw in the doghouse by his party, except maybe the Geriatric Hamilton Green, who is the most prominent advocate that the PNC must always rigged all the elections so they can keep the majority Indo-Guyanese “bastards and devils” and others away from power.